Newly commissioned Solar Park powers PIARCO International Airport with clean energy

Trinidad and Tobago: The newly-commissioned Solar Park in Trinidad and Tobago is all set to generate clean energy to power PIARCO International airport. The Government of the island nation called Solar Park a “victory” for the planet and for the future generations.

While shedding light on Solar Park, the government of Trinidad and Tobago stated that this remarkable collaboration between the government, EU and UNDP is a huge step towards a sustainable and resilient nation.

Notably, this project was commissioned through a grant of €1.5 million or $12 million TT with a vision to benefit Piarco International Airport with a renewable source of energy. The construction of the park took two years and is now considered as the largest one in all the Caribbean airports. This project supplies 4% of the annual energy required by the Airport, with Phase 2 set to supply 8%.

The government stated that this is a project that will be continued until they achieve at least 30% of the utilization of the electricity in renewable energy. As per the reports shared by the Government, this 0.5 MW solar park is anticipated to produce a minimum annual generation capacity of 767,034 kWh which can avoid 500 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, annually.

With this initiative, the authorities of the island nation is committed to reduce its emissions by 15%, with a vision of enhancing air quality and improving economic growth of the country. During its official launch ceremony which was conducted on 30th July 2024, the Minister Stuart Young stated that “Trinidad and Tobago is giving not only its commitment, but you will see through our implementation and delivery that we will do our part.”

Notably, the Government also stated that this solar park would play a crucial role in the country in case of unfavourable situations due to climate change. Recently, Trinidad and Tobago have faced massive destruction due to Hurricane Beryl, therefore, the authorities stated these solar parks installed would provide clean and sustainable energy and will also offer other financial benefits.

The Government asserted that this park offers a solution to the vulnerable solutions by providing energy independence and resilience. He stated that homeowners can also reduce their dependence on traditional electricity sources, resulting in substantial savings on their energy bills.

The government stated that it is just one of their steps towards building a sustainable nation. He added that they will continue to come up with similar innovative ideas and strategies to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and creating a healthier environment for all its citizens.